The use of ICT for Teaching and Learning among Secondary Schools Teachers in Mtwara, Tanzania

Abstract

The use of ICT in teaching and learning improve the quality and performance of education delivery, administration and management. As the world is moving fast technologically, it is important to assess teachers’ awareness and abilities in using ICT for teaching, and if ICT tools are available in secondary schools. The study had three specific objectives ; to assess teachers’ awareness of ICT policy for Basic Education in Tanzania, teachers’ abilities in using teaching and learning ICT tools, and the availability of basic teaching and learning ICT tools. From seven public secondary schools, about 110 teachers were involved in this descriptive study which was conducted under a mixed approach. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were applied to assess teachers’ awareness and current skills and practices in the application of the available ICT for teaching and learning. The results of this study indicate that a moderate number of secondary schools’ teachers were aware of the ICT policy for basic education in Tanzania. Also, the results show that the majority of secondary schools possess fewer teaching and learning ICT tools. In addition, the findings indicate that most teachers have moderate abilities in using ICT tools for teaching and learning. However, 91.5 per cent of male teachers possessed more ICT skills than did female teachers. The paper recommends that the Government of Tanzania invest more efforts and resources to integrate ICT in secondary school education and raise teachers’ awareness of ICT policy through seminars or workshops.